From left, IUP AMSA members Catherine Martsolf (president), Lisa Morgan, Arielle Johnson, Saja Abulaila, Mia Courtalis, and Christian Roemer
Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s American Medical Student Association (AMSA) recently visited LECOM Seton Hill Medical School in Greensburg.
IUP’s AMSA is a student-run organization intended for students who are interested in pursuing the medical field or simply have any interest in the medical field, ranging from pre-medicine, pre-veterinarian, pre-pharmacy, pre-optometry, pre-dental, pre-chiropractic, pre-physical therapy, pre-podiatry, and physician assistant students. It also includes students who are nursing majors in its membership. There are 25 students in the organization.
“For me, AMSA isn’t just another pre-med organization—it’s a valuable space where students can get a real look at what being a physician is actually like,” AMSA President Catherine Martsolf said.
“The path to medicine is no joke, and I want students to be as informed as possible when making decisions about their future. I believe it’s important to enter medical school with both passion and purpose, but also with an open mind. Exploring different specialties and career paths helps students stay flexible and find what truly resonates with them.
“That’s why, this semester, I’ve worked to bring a variety of speakers to campus, including a chiropractor who also specializes in sports medicine and works with Olympic athletes, family medicine residents from Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC), a robotic surgeon who also oversees the IRMC pre-medical internship program, and a physician assistant with experience in both pain medicine and gynecology, with more speakers still to come. Through AMSA, I’m focused on creating opportunities that help students see the bigger picture of what a career in medicine can look like and hopefully inspire them to stay curious, committed, and open to all the possibilities ahead,” Martsolf said. “The ultimate goal for the organization is for students to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible to get closer to their goals in the field of medicine,” she said
“The LECOM tour was excellent,” Martsolf said. “During the tour, we had the chance to engage with current medical students, experience a classroom simulation, observe live demonstrations, explore their simulation lab, and even enjoy a lunch with a few faculty members. It was a unique experience that allowed us to connect with the future of medicine and gain invaluable insight into the medical school environment. We hope to visit additional medical schools in the future.”
Martsolf, a senior at IUP, is completing dual honors degrees in biology (pre-medical track) and economics from Clinton. She serves in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard at the 171st Air Refueling Wing located in Pittsburgh. She is the founder and former president of the Student Veterans Organization and is a member of the Rho Tau Chi (PTX) military service fraternity. She is a student worker in IUP’s Military and Veterans Resource Center.
She also is the former president of the IUP Women’s Rugby Team, is a Crimson Guide (admissions tour guide), is a mentor for biology pre-medicine students, and volunteers at Indiana Regional Medical Center.
Martsolf conducts research to assess the efficacy of naltrexone and bupropion in treating methamphetamine addiction in mice, while also engaging in various other research projects within the IUP Department of Finance and Economics and performing independent literature reviews.
She also volunteers with IUP’s Haven Project, which provides education and builds awareness about domestic violence and supports domestic violence survivors.
In addition to her service with the National Guard, she also works as a medical assistant at Indiana Regional Medical Center (IRMC), a barista and trainer at Starbucks, and works various positions at Sabre Equipment in Coraopolis such as driving vehicles and creating and posting hiring ads.
In summer 2023, she completed IRMC’s Pre-Med Undergraduate Summer Internship.
“I’ve had a chance to have a lot of experiences at IUP, and I want to encourage any student who may be interested in a career in the medical field to join the AMSA. It’s a great organization to help you define your goals and learn about different professional options in medicine.”
Club members shared that the AMSA activities and support and the LECOM tour have been very beneficial.
“I heard about AMSA my first semester at IUP in my junior year --I transferred in with an Associate in Science --and after obtaining a morale boost when I received my new, I knew my dreams and goals to be a doctor someday were attainable,” biology major Lisa Morgan, from Ford City, said. “I made the decision to join the group during my winter break to understand the enrollment process for medical school better.
“I’ve really benefited from hearing testimonies from physicians and others who have and are going through the process to become a doctor,” Morgan said. “Making new connections with other students who also want to improve the lives of others is also as important to me. The LECOM tour and finding out about its Problem-Based Learning (PBL) was very appealing to someone like me who needs a real-world thinking approach as a learning opportunity.
“The tour also reminded me that there are so many opportunities and possible pathways,” Morgan said. “Not one experience between medical students is ever the same. It helped encourage me to take the risk.”
Group member Christian Roemer, a junior pre-medical biology major from DuBois, also recognized Martsolf’s leadership and the important role of the club in his career planning.
“During the tour, interacting with current medical students made me realize how much of a family you may become when you are working with the students in your class. Everyone there seemed to know each other extremely well; that is important for building relationships in the medical community,” he said.
“I chose to join AMSA because I wanted to participate in something I thought would help me navigate decisions in my medical career,” Roemer said. “Catherine's leadership has helped the AMSA organization live up to its potential; we have done more activities and meetings that were beneficial under her leadership. She also fosters a sense of community because she helps us understand that everyone's medical school pathways are different. After meeting with some of the IRMC staff, there is already a sense of familiarity for those who may work as medical professionals in Indiana,” Roemer said.